Bag feeding apparatus



May 5, 1942.

L. BISCHOFF BAG FEEDING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 11, 1941 Z wa INVETOR ATTORNEY May 5, 1942. L. BISCHO FF 2,282,150

BAG FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 11, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY May 5, 1942. L. BISCHOFF BAG FEEDING APPARATUS 7' Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 11, 1941 INYENTOR ATTORNEY y 1942- LQBISCHOFF BAG FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 11, 1941 TShee ts-Shet 4 I INVENTOR w W ATTORNEY May 5, 1942. L. BISCHOFF BAG FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 11, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 myE'NToR FIGJI.

ATTORNEY May 5, 1942.

L. BISCHQFF BAG FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Feb 11, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR ATTORNEY y 5, 1942- L. BISCHOFF BAG FEEDING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Feb. 11, 1941 IN VENTOR BY 441M ATTORNEY Patented May 5, 1942 BAG FEEDING APPARATUS Louis Bischoff, New York, N. Y., assignor to Oneida Paper Products, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 11, 1941, Serial No. 378,366

17 Claims.

This invention relates to bag apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for successively feeding bags into a tin-tie attaching device.

It is quite often desired, in the manufacture and use of bags, to provide means integrally associated therewith for facilitating the closure or fastening of the bag. One of the common means utilized for this purpose is the so-called tin-tie consisting of a flexible, foldable or bendable metallic tape around which is wrapped and secured a sheet of paper having an extending tongue which may be adhesively secured to one surface of the bag at the top edge thereof.

The tin-tie is then arranged in such a manner that when the top of the bag is closed and rolled up, the projecting ends of the tin-tie may be bent over the edge of the roll and thus secure the closure.

Heretofore, while the manufacture of the tintie itself and the actual securement of the tintie to the bag has been mechanical and automatic, real diificulty was encountered in feeding the bag to the tin-tie securing mechanism; and. the full potentialities of the tin-tie securing mechanism were scarcely realized because the feeding of the bag thereto was to a great extent manual.

The object of this invention, therefore, is the provision of automatic mechanically operated means for feeding bags to the tin-tie securing machine.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of means in connection with such apparatus for mechanically feeding bags to tin-tie securing mechanisms and for treating the bags without first requiring any special arrangement thereof.

For this purpose it is both necessary and useful that the bags need not be separated or otherwise manually treated before they are placed in f the mechanism. And it has been found, in the operation of this invention, that piles of bags may be virtually indiscriminately placed in the hopper of the feeding mechanism and then appropriately fed to the tin-tie securing machine.

Other objects of the present invention will in part be apparent and, where not apparent, pointed out, and the specific mechanisms by means of which these and the foregoing objects are obtained will be fully set forth in the follown ing description and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of one'form of apparatus for accomplishing the purpose and functions of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom View of a bag in connection with which the present invention is intended to operate.

Figure 2a is a plan View of a tin-tie which it is desired to secure at the closure of each of the bags.

Figure 3 is a front view partially broken away of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the mechanism of Figure 3.

Figure 5 illustrates the operation of the mechanism of Figure 4 in another operating position.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6, 6 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the mechanism of Figure 6 showing a different stage of the operation thereof.

Figure 8 is a view corresponding to that of Figures 6 and '7 showing still another position of the operating mechanism.

Figure 9 is a view partly in cross-section and partly in elevation showing a slightly modified form of the operating mechanism of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the mechanism of Figure 1.

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional View taken along line H, II of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line l2, I2 of Figure 11 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 13 is a top plan view of the bed of the machine partly in cross-section taken along line I3, [3 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 14 is a view in elevation of the rear of the machine taken along line l4, it of Figure 11 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view partly in elevation taken along line l5, l5 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the figures, there is shown an adjustable vertical hopper having a pair of side plates H and 22 which are respectively integrally flanged extensions of supporting plates 23 and 25. The supporting plates 23 and. 25 are mounted on a back plate 24 and may be adjustably positioned thereon by means of any suitable engagement thereof with slots 26 in the said plates 24.

The movement of side plates 2! and 22 will adjust the mechanism for various lengths of bags 38.

A pair of front plates or guides 3! and 32 are also provided (see Figures 1 and 3). These front guides are supported by angle irons 34 which are adjustable by means of the bolts 35 on the side plates 2! and 22 in order to prepare the hopper for bags of different widths.

The upper ends of the guides or plates 3| and 32 are curved upwardly slightly, as shown in Figure 1, in order to facilitate the insertion of bags in the hopper.

In order to facilitate the operation of the mechanism herein described, the bags are placed is supported on flange 53.

in the hopper in the position shown in Figure 2, that is, with the double bottom portion 36 thereof downwardly; and the ends of each of the bags having the double bottom portion 36 are placed againstthe side plate 22, the open ends of each of the bags abutting the side plates 2 I.

Since, as is seen particularly in Figure 2 the double bottom of the bag creates an additional thickness at one end thereof, some means should preferably be provided to level off the bags so that a tall pile of the bags will not tend to curve unduly. I

For this purpose it has been found, as seen in Figures 3, 6, '7, and 8, that a plurality of spaced horizontal beads 40 on the inner surface of the side plate 2| abutting the free end. of the bag will serve to level the bags off sufficientlyto permit accurate operation thereon.

Ordinarily, as seen at M on Figure 6, one end of each of the bags. is supported on one of the propriately spaced in order to maintain the vertical alignment of. the bags and 'to'prevent an excessive curvature of the pile.

The bags at the bottom of the hopper are supported on a plurality of inturned flanges .as seen in Figure 12. Flanges 50 and 5I support thesides of the bottoms of the bag, and flange 52 supports the open ends of the bottombag. The double bottom or closed end 36 of the bag Flanges 54 and 55 are, as is seen more particularly in Figure 11, spaced substantially below flange 53 and are in position to support the closed ends of the bags after they have been detached from flange 53.

The closed end 36 of each bag is withdrawn from engagement withflthe flange 53 of the bottom of the hopper by means of the trigger ap- 'toand drives the sprocket I02 (see Figures 1 and 3). The sprocket I02 rotates on one element I93 of the clutch mounted on the shaft paratus 66 (see Figure 6) which grasps the tongue 3611 created by the satchel bottom or double bottom 36 of the bottom bag in the hopper and pulls the end 36 away from and beneath the position where it is supported by the flange 53. V o

The end 36 of the bottom bag then drops down on the flanges 54 and 55, whereupon the trigger 6D releases the tongue 36a.

The plate BI on the slide 62 then is forced up to pinch the bag against the upper plate 63 carried by the slide and thus engages the end 36 of the bag in the manner shown in Figure 7.

The slide 62 then moves back to the position shown in Figure 8 where the movable plate 6| is moved back to its original position, thus releasing the bag and causing it to drop down on the bed 65.

By this time, of course, the entire bag 36 has been withdrawn from the bottom of the hopper so that there is no further impediment to its dropping.

The downwardly projecting fingers 66 of the slide 62 now push the bag once more toward the right (with respect to Figure 8), into the position shown in Figure 6, where it enters the lips 61, 68 of the tin-tie attaching apparatus so that the tin-tie 460 may be secured thereto.

The bag with the tin-tie secured is then re- I64 and may be engaged in driving relationship with the shaft I64 when the opposite element I65 of the clutch is brought into meshing relationship with element I03 by means of the crank I66.

The crank I26 pivots on a bearing III'I, one end thereof carrying a pin I08 which rides in a groove I69 of clutch element I05 and the opposite end thereof having a handle member III.

Rotation of shaft I04 causes the bevelled gear II 2' to rotate. Shaft I I3 is rotated by bevelled gear H4 which is in meshing relation with gear The rotation of shaft H3 causes the plate H5 mounted at the opposite end thereof torotate. Plate I I5 carries eccentrically thereof a pin II6 on which is pivotally mounted one end of the link H! (see Figures 11 and 3).

The opposite end of link I" is at I20 pivotally connected to the oscillating arm I2I which is rotatably mounted on the pivot I22 and which carries on the opposite or free end thereof the rack or gear segment I23.

It will now be clear that rotation of the sprocket I62 by the motor I06 will, through the rotation of the shaft I04 and the bevelled gears H2 and H4 cause rotation of shaft II3 which will in turn rotate the disk H5. The rotation of the disk H5 will, through the eccentric pivotal securement of the link II'I, cause the link II! to oscillate, this in turn causing the oscillating arm I2I and the rack I23 carried thereby to oscillate.

Obviously, instead of a plate H5 and a pin H6, a crank arm may be mounted on a shaft to produce the same result.

The rack or gear segment I23 meshes with the gear I24 mounted on the shaft I25 and thus causes this gear I24 to rotate first in one direction and then in the other, in accordance with the oscillation of the rack I23.

Gear I26 also keyed to shaft I25 meshes with the rack I21 which is secured to and constitutes a part of the slide 62.

Gear I 26, by reason of the foregoing operations induced by the oscillation of the rack I23, is caused to rotate first in one direction and then in the other, and therefore, causes the rack I21 to move back and forth, and hence causes the slide 62 to move back and forth.

As has already been pointed out, the slide 62 in its forward movement beneath the bag hop per 26 engages the free end 36 of the lowest bag which has just been released from the flange 53.

When the slide 62 has been moved to the opposite end of its stroke, as in Figure 8, and thus has withdrawn the bag completely from the hopper, the bag is dropped down on to the bed of the machine in position to be forced forward into the tin-tie attaching apparatus.

It is necessary, however, to provide means operable by the movement of the slide 62 which will engage the free end of the bag at the end of the forward movement of the slide and which will cause the disengagement of the bag after the bag has been withdrawn from the hopper.

The plate 6i which pinches the bag end 36 against the plate 63 at the end of the forward movement and which releases the bag at the end of the backward movement is operated by a combination roller and plate arrangement shown in Figures 4 and 13.

As is seen in these figures, the pinching or securing plate GI carried by the slide 62 is mounted upon and secured to a shaft I30 which is rotatable in appropriate bearings I3I on the principal frame member I32 of the slide 62.

The plate BI may be secured to the shaft I30 in any suitable manner, as for instance by screws.

The shaft I30 also carries keyed or otherwise secured thereto a lever or crank I33. The free end of the lever I33 is at I34 secured to the tension spring I35.

The opposite end of the tension spring is secured to any suitable portion of the slide 62, as for instance a plate I36 which depends from the main frame I32 thereof.

The bias of spring I35 tends to rotate shaft I30 in a clockwise direction with respect to Figure 4 and this tends to cause the shaft I30 to rotate in a manner to depress the plate BI.

An additional crank member I40 is secured to one end of the shaft I30 in such a manner that rotation thereof will effect rotation of the shaft I30.

The outer end of the crank member I40 carries a roller I4I rotatably mounted on any suitable pin I42 thereof.

It will now be obvious that movement or rotation of the crank I40 by any member which engages the roller It! will cause a corresponding rotation of shaft I30 and a corresponding movement of the plate BI.

In order to effect this movement of plate BI, and in order to ensure that the movement of plate GI will be accurately synchronized with the oscillatory movement of the slide 62, a stationary plate or rails I50 is provided on the bed 65 of the machine and located along one side thereof.

Stationary plate I50 has at the end thereof nearest the hopper an additional small hinged plate I5I pivotally secured thereto at I52 and constituting a movable extension of the plate I50.

Plate I5I is normally held in the dependent angular position shown by the solid lines of Figure 4 by the tension spring I60 which is secured at one end to the pin IBI of the plate and at the other end to a stationary pin I62 on the frame of the machine.

Normally the bias of spring I35 causes the shaft I30 to rotate so that the roller I42 thereof and the crank I40 are in the vertical position shown by the solid lines of Figure 4. Hence, at the end of the backward movement and at the inception of the forward movement, the roller I4! may enter beneath the edge N of the plate I50 and neither the plate nor the roller will interfere with each other during the continuance of the forward movement.

As the slide 52 completes its forward movement, the roller I4I passes beneath plate II and, since the tension of spring I35 is greater than that of spring I30, it tends to lift the plate I5l to the position shown by the dotted lines.

As the roller I4I passes beyond the forward edge of plate I5I, plate I5I snaps down and the roller I42 now rides on the upper surface of the plate.

Now during the return or backward movement of the slide 02, the roller I4I must necessarily IEO ride on the top edge III of the plate I50. This causes crank I40 to be displaced in a counterclockwise direction with respect to Figure 4 and, therefore, also causes the rotation of the shaft I30 and the pinching plate 6| in a counterclockwise direction.

Thus, immediately on the inception of the return movement of the slide 62, plate BI is rotated upwardly to engage the end 36 of the bag against the plate E3 in the manner shown in Figure '7.

The bag is, therefore, securely gripped between plates Ill and 63 and withdrawn from the hopper.

When the slide 62 reaches the end of its witht drawal movement, the roller I4I may then drop down from the surface III of plate I and spring I35 will cause the pinching plate 6| to rotate to non-engaging position thus permitting the bag 30 to drop down in the manner shown in Figure 8. The continued forward movement of the slide 62 will now by reason of the dependent fingers 66 push the bag forward, in the manner previously described, into and between the lips and 61 of the tin-tie apparatus.

At the same time, as is seen in Figure 6, the slide 62 has been returned to a position where it is just about to grasp the edge 36 of the next lowest bag in the hopper. The manner in which the pinching plate GI is in this way pressed against plate 53 with the bag end 35 between immediately after the inception of the return or backward movement of the slide 62 is clearly shown in Figure 5.

In order, however, that the slide 32 carrying the plates @I and 03 may engage or grasp the end 3t of the lowest bag 30 it is necessary that this end be withdrawn from the position where it rests on the flange 53 to a position where it rests on the flanges 54 and 55.

Trigger 60 accomplishes this result immediately after the completion of the return or backward movement of the slide 52 and after the lowest bag has been dropped down on the bed 65.

The trigger 00, it will be noted, comprises the stationary plate 200 and a gripper 20I which is mounted or otherwise keyed to a rotatable shaft 202.

It is necessary and at least useful that the base 203 on which the trigger mechanism 00 is mounted oscillate backward and forward so that it will be moved into position to engage the tongue 3% created by the bottom of the bag when it is desired to withdraw the bag from the flange 53 and so that the trigger will be moved out of the way of the plates BI and 63 on slide 52 when these plates are to pinch the withdrawn end 36 of the bag.

In order to accomplish this purpose (see particularly Figure 3) the base 203 is arranged so that it may oscillate or slide in the guide rails 204.

The mechanism which causes the base 203 to oscillate comprises a sprocket 205 which is driven by a chain 200 from a sprocket 20? (see Figure 11) mounted on the shaft H3.

The manner of obtaining the rotation of shaft H3 has been previously described.

The sprocket 205 is keyed to the shaft 2I0 which rotates in a bearing in the standard 2! I. Crank 2 I2 is also keyed to this shaft and rotates therewith.

Tie rod 2H5 is pivotally connected at one end to the end 2I4 of crank 2I2 and at the other end is pivotally connected at 2I5 to the base 203 of the trigger mechanism 60.

It ay now b c e r h t i n f s oc 205, by means of the rotation of shaft H3 will cause rank ii-2a to r a e an h ce 1 cause e ent re rod, 213 to osci ate hus causing the base 2&3, to move backwards and forwards in its rails 294.

By appropriate gearing arrangement and by appropriate proportioning of the diameters of the various pulleys involved, the oscillatory movement of the base 203 may be coordinated with the corresponding oscillatory movement of the slide 62 so that these movements will supplement ea h the o ourse, e y facilitated y the fa t that oth o these elements are driven om. the s n le. shaft It is now necessary to synchronize the movement of the gripper with the movement of its base 262 so that it may engage the tongue 36a created by the double bottom 36 of the bag.

Here a ai n order to obtain perfect synchronism, it is desirable that the operating mechanism for effectin rotation of the gripper 2M should be operated from shaft i l 3.

Accordingly a earn 220 is mounted upon the shaft 1 I 3 and s rotatable t r n- A cam follower or roller 22! m nt d n a m 32 en a es th su ace f m The arm 222 is, at 223, keyed to the shaft 224 which is rotatable in appropriate bearings 225 and 226 in the main frame of the mechanism.

A crank arm 239 is also keyed to shaft 224 and is rotatable therewith. This crank arm carries at the outer end thereof one end of a tie rod 23] which is at 232 pivotally connected to the crank 233. (See also Figure 14.)

Crank 233 is keyed to shaft 234 so that rotation of the said crank results in rotation of shaft 23 which rides in bearings 235 and 235 of the frame of the mechanism.

The end of the shaft 234 opposite the end at which crank 233' is attached carries a crank 22!) to the end of which is secured a connecting rod 24!. The opposite end of the connecting rod 24! is pivotally secured at 242 to the gripper shaft operating link 2433. the gripper shaft operating link is at 244 pivotally secured to an ear 225 extending from the standard 2! i.

When th eccentricity of the cam 22%? mounted on the shaft H3 causes the cam follower Hi to change its position, it thus causes the rotation of shaft 224 which through the crank 230, connecting rod 23! and crank 233 causes the rotation of shaft 234. This, in turn, through crank 245) and connecting rod 2 causes an up and down movement of the end 242 of the operating link 253, the said end 242 rotating about the pivot 244 as seen,

The operating link 243 is squared off and on the upper surface 252 thereof there rides a roller 2%".

The roller 25I is secured at one end of the crank 252, the opposite end of the crank being secured to the shaft 202 which operates the gripper 29!. The shaft 202 in addition to carrying the crank 252 and the gripper 2M, also carries keyed thereto a lever 253 to the free end of which there is secured a tension spring 254, the opposite end of which is held by the pin 255 on the base 223 of the trigger mechanism 60.

The spring, therefore, biasses the shaft 203 into rotation in a clockwise direction with respect to Figure 14 so that the roller is always engaged with the top surface 251: of the operating link 243.

The opposite end of 7 b eason o th eccentricit oi he .21) nd he or s qhd hs movem nt o th o her ements b ve-d scribed... the er in ink 2 is caus d to op. then t shaft 2 is ermitted to rotate in a clockwise direction with respect to Figure 14; in response to the bias exerted by spring 254. When, further, owing to the eccentricity of the cam, the operating link 243 is caused to rise then the pressure of the s ace there f a ainst h rol er 5' cau es h sh 92 to r ta e n a l ck i e ect i respect to Figure 1e and thus with respect to Figures 6, 'Z, and 8 it causes the gripper 2M to rotate in a QQQIItQIrClQCkWiSE direction 9rd to. e f t the ippin e ion,

an o t mo g. lements. erefo e. a e ompletely and permanently synchronized by reason o the fact; tha he ar op a e f om t c mon sha 1.; Thus the tat qh of he rip er hit to inn n elat on h he mo e: ment of the base 222 to the position where the gripper may be operated to best advantage, and the movement of the slide 62 after the gripper has performed its appropriate operation are intor-related so that they cannot fall out of phase and thus destroy the operation of the mechanism.

It now is clear that as the base 203 is moved toward the left with respect to Figure 6, the.

gripper 2i enters into the pocket between the tongue a of the bottom 35 of the bag and the adjacent outside surface of the bag 30.

The rotation of shaft 202 now causes the gripper 20! to press the tongue 3611 down upon the plate 2%, thus serving to detach the end 36 of the bag from its support by the flange 53.

If this alone should not be sufficient to effect the detachment required, then the return movement of the base 203 serves to complete this operation.

As the base 203 returns to the right with rep ct o F r t e gripper s ed n a clockwise direction with respect to Figure 6 into non-gripping relationship and the bag end 36 is now free to be pinched between the plate iii and plate 83 for withdrawal from the bottom of the hopper in the manner previously described.

It will be clear, of course, that the plate 63 is so arranged that it will be slid immediately beneath the flange 53 which had previously supported the end 36 of the bag and thus will slide on the opposite or upper surface of the bag so that the bag may be pinched between the two gripping elements GI and 63 as seen in Figure 5.

It will, of course, be clear that various other elements are either useful or necessary in connection with the foregoing operations in order to ensure that the same be accurately carried out.

Thus, as is seen in Figure 11, the slide member 62 has a main base 3511] at the bottom of which the rack I2? is located. The main base 320 has rail elements 30! and 382 registering in grooves in the 1 01 Of the frame in order accurately to position the same during its sliding motion.

The fingers 68, which serve to push the bag into the tin-tie attaching mechanism after the same has been dropped down on the bed 65 of the machine, ride in grooves 3H], 310 of the bed 65 in order to ensure that the bag which has been dropped must necessarily be forced forward into the tin-tie attacher.

A pair of bars 320, 320 may be adjustably secured by the bolts 32 and 322 in a support 324 above the slide 62 in such a manner as to be interposed in the path of the bottom end of the bag during the backward movement of the slide 62.

The bars 320 ensure that the bag, after it has 5 been released from the plates 6| and 63, will be dropped down on the bed 65.

When the bag is being pushed forward into the tin-tie attaching mechanism 68 and 61, it is useful and desirable that means be provided to 10 ensure that the bag is perfectly straight so that the tin-tie 400 (see Figure 2a) may be accurately attached in the manner shown in Figures 6 and 13.

For this purpose there is provided at one side of the bed 65 along which the bag travels a vertical flange 40L (See Figures 3, 6, and 13.) And along the opposite side of the path of travel of the bag a movable fork 410 is provided which may be operated in such a manner as to aligngo the bag against the vertical flange 40!.

Fork 4l0 must necessarily, therefore, be operated in synchronism with all of the other portions, and hence should be operated from shaft H3 or through members which are inescapably connected therewith.

Accordingly, a gear 420 is mounted on shaft I04 which is in geared relation with shaft H3 and hence inescapably integrated therewith.

Gear 420 engages with and drives gear 421 Shaft 422 carries keyed thereto and rotatable .35

therewith cam 425.

Cam follower 426, which is a roller, bears against the surface of cam 425. The cam follower or roller 426 is rotatably mounted on the end of crank 421, which is, in turn, keyed to and, there ,40

fore, rotatable with a shaft 430.

Shaft 430 carries keyed thereto and rotatable therewith the fork 43 l.

The cam follower 426 is held against the cam so that it may translate variations in the surface 43 of the cam into corresponding movements of the fork by a tension spring 435 which is connected at one end to the fork and at the other end to a pin 436 on the frame.

As the flattened portion 440 of the cam 425 reaches roller or cam follower 426 then the spring 436 is permitted to raise the fork 43I to vertical position; and the fork is returned once more to the position shown in Figures 13 and 11 when the cam follower 426 rides on the remainder of the cam. The fork is caused to rise to the vertical position as the slide moves and thus guides the bag into position to properly enter the tin-tie attaching mechanism.

The fork 43I will then serve to move the side edge of the bag so that the opposite edge thereof will be aligned against the flange 4! so that the bag will be perfectly aligned when the tin-tie is attached.

After the tin-tie has been attached by any suitable means which are now known in the art, it is necessary that the bag be removed from the bed 65 of the machine so that the next bag to be operated upon may enter the tin-tie attaching mechanism.

Accordingly there has been provided a pair of belts 500 and 50!.

Belt 500 rotates at one end about the pulley 502 mounted on the rotatable shaft 503; and belt 5M rotates about the pulley 504 mounted on the rotatable shaft 505.

While shafts 503 and 505 are rotatable, they are not otherwise movable, and the pulleys 502 and 504 are so arranged that they are always in engagement with each other so that the surfaces of belts 500 and 50I are at the area in which they are in contact with these pulleys always in engagement.

The opposite end of belt 500 is operated over rotatable pulley 506 and the opposite end of pulley 50! is operated over rotatable pulley 501, each of these pulleys being rotatable about its respective shafts 508 and 509.

Shafts 508 and 509 are so arranged that they may be separated or brought together. When brought together, pulleys 506 and 501 are in sulficiently close contact with each other to cause the surfaces of the belts 500 and 50! at that time to be in contact along the area of these pulleys.

In this latter case, the inner surfaces of each of the belts are in contact along their entire path.

Shafts 500 and 500 are respectively each mounted on brackets 520 and 52! each of which is respectively rotatable about the shafts 503 and 505 which have a fixed relationship to each other.

When the brackets 520 and 521 are separated, then shafts 508 and 509 are separated, and hence the ends of the belts traveling around pulleys 506 and 501 are likewise separated.

The belts, at the areas in which they approach or engage pulleys 506 and 501, lie on either side of the bed 65 which is cut out at 530 at this point.

The edge of the bag 30, therefore, passes between pulleys 506 and 501 when the open end of the bag is forced into the tin-tie attaching mechamsm.

After the tin-tie has been attached, then the pulleys 500 and 501 are brought together so that the bag is then captured between the areas of the belts 500 and 501 which are adjacent the pulleys 506 and 501; and thereafter, owing to the direction of the movement of the belts, the bags are fed out laterally away from the bed 65 of the machine, and away from the tin-tie attachin apparatus so that the apparatus is now ready for the next succeeding bag.

Here again the mechanism which causes the pulleys 506 and 501 to separate in order to permit the bag to be fed therebetween and the mechanism which causes these pulleys to be brought together out of the tin-tie attaching apparatus should also be synchronized with the operation of the mechanism.

One way in which this may be done is shown in Figures 1, 3 and 10.

A cam 600 is keyed to the shaft I04 and rotatable therewith.

This cam has a cam surface 60l against which the cam follower or roller 602 bears. The cam follower or roller 602 is mounted on the end of an arm 603, the opposite end of which arm is keyed to and rotatable with a shaft 604.

The shaft 604 also carries keyed thereto and rotatable therewith an arm 6l0.

The roller or cam follower 602 is held in a position where it engages against the cam surface by the tension spring 6 l 2 which is caught at one end on the pin 6l3 of the arm H0 and at the other end on the frame of the machine.

The upper end of the arm 610 has, as is more clearly seen in Figure 10, a pair of inclined slots 620 and 621.

Pins 522 and 6'23 secured to the and MI extend through the slots 620 and 62l.

Movement of the arm 6H3 in response to the tension of the spring, which is permitted to operate by eccentricity of th'e cam, causes slot 62! and 621) to move to varying positions with respect to the pins 622 and 523. When the'arm 6| has been moved to the position shown by the dotted lines of Figure 10, thenthe brackets 520 and 52! are broughttogether so that pulleys 5G6 and 591 are inengagement with each other and the belt may then engage the bag and move it outwardly.

When the arm tin is moved back to the position shown by the solid line's of Figure 10, then the brackets 528 and 52! are forced apart so that the bag 30 passing between pulleys 506 and 50'! will not be engaged by the belts. By this meahs, therefore, a simplified removal mechanism is provided after the tin-tie has been at- This invention may, ofcours'e', be modified in many "different ways in order to secure the res'ults and the operations hereinabove desoribed.

one'such modification has been shown in 'Figure "9 where the trigger til, instead ofbeing a purely mechanical one, depends entirely upon suction inorder to remove the end 3% of the bag from the flange 53.

It will also be clear that by the use of suction l in the modified form of Figure 9, no dependence placed uponthe tongue sen or the bag in order to remove the bottom end of the bag from w re a. y

"An ordinary bag 'whichdoes not have such a tongue or a double bottom "may be operated upon by this'devioe in the same manner as is seen in i e V l The trigger mechanism 59" therein shown comprises a base 453 which, however-,- need not oscillate, but which maybe provided with oscillating means exactly similar 'to that provided in connc'tioh 'withtne base 293 above-described,

A 'r'otatable shaft T62 may be provided which is carried by the base 103, and this rotatable "shaft i'riay carfy secured thereto and rotatable therewith 'a tube WI having a'mouth 130. v

The shaft 102 may be caused to rotate in exactly the same manner previously described in connection withthe shaft 2fi2 of Figure 6.

'Bi'it if the base 1&3 is to remain stationary, then the link or connecting rod 2M may be directly secured to a crank 532 which is keyed to the shaft 102.

A manifold M0 may be providedin the memher 103 connecting the end flfll of the tube M2 and the end of the tube 1B2, thus drawing air through the mouth 13 0 of the tube Hi l.

The tube NH may be brought up into'eng a gement with the underside of the bag. At this time a suitabletiming valve may operate to permit suction to become 'efiective onthe mouth 130 of the tube, thus making it possible for the tube in its'do'wnwa rd movement to withdraw the bag from the flange 53. Immediately after the withdrawal operation has been per formed and before the slide 62 coinesinto operation, 'a suitable valve may operate to cut ofithe suction from the mouth [30 of the tube'so that no impediment will existto the withdrawalof the tion of the many operations of the -mechani'sm.

Many'other modifications of each -of, the elements thereof should now be obvious to those skilled in the art.

test-set The tin-tie attaching means whi ch operates in connection with the elements '68 and E! of Figure 6 above have not been illustrated since these are believed to be conventional in the art and since this mechanism; may be used to feed bags into any type of tin-tie mechanism. The present mechanism may, of course, be utilized to feed bags from a hopper into any other type of machine or for any other purpose, and the present invention is by no means to be understood to be limited solely to tin-tie attachment. v 7 H I I The tin-tie 4% (Figures 2a and 1-3) as has been previously described is, in the ordinary tintie machine, formed from a continuous strip consisting of as'tr'ip of metal around which paper has be'en wrapp'e'd, a portion of the paper being permitted to project. v, I n

The tin-ties are then cut off from this con tinuoiis strip and the tongue elements 860, 880 are provided extending from the sides of the attaching element 8%. r l I After a suitable adhesive has been applied to the surface of the attaching element 801', and after the bag has been moved into position so that one surface of the upper end thereof rests on the element the application of pressure in a manner well-known in the art of attaching tin-ties will secure the tin-tie to the bag.

Essentially the entire operation of the mechanism herein described as used in connection with the attachment of tin-ties to the bag consists of the placement of the bags in the hopper 20, the release of one end of the bags from the bottom of the hopper by means of the gripper 2!!! on the trigger (it, the withdrawal of the bag from the bottom of the hopper by means of the slide mechanism '62, the dropping of the bag down 'on the bed 6'5, pushing the bag forward into the tin-tie attaching mechanism, aligning the bag while it is being pushed forward, and removal of the bag from the tin-tie attaching mechanism in preparation for the next succeeding operation. I v

Each'of the operations of each o-f 'the elements herein mentioned has been set forth specifically in connection with the description of each of these elements. a

Although in the foregoing there have been illustrated various specific embodiments of this invention, many variations of each of the elemerits and of the methods of combining the same should now be obvious to those skilled in the art.

'I prefer, therefore, to be bound not by the specific disclosures herein, but only by the appended claims.

I'claim:

1. Abag feeding apparatus comprising a hopper, meansfor "sdpporting a plurality of stacked bagstherein, means forreleasing a portion of a bag'from the bottom of the stack and a slide member having a plate engageable with said released portion of the bag, said slide member being movable in a first direction to engage said portion of Y the "bag and in the opposite direction to removetlie bag from the bottom of the hopper; means for disengaging said bag from said plate at the completion of said movement in the opposite direction and for dropping said bag upon a bed and means for thereafter moving said bag in said first direction upon said bed.

2. Abag fee'ding apparatus comprising a hopper, means for supporting a plurality of stacked bags therein, means for releasing a portion of a bag from the bottom of the stack and a slide member having a first plate and a rotatable plate, said plates being engageable against each other on either side of the released portion of the bag, said slide member being movable in a first direction to cause said first plate to come between the upper surface of the released bag and the bottom of the next succeeding bag, said rotatable plate being rotatable against the under surface of the released portion of the bag and against said first plate after completion of said movement of the slide member in said first direction, said slide member being movable in an opposite direction to withdraw said bag from the bottom of the hopper, said rotatable plate being rotatable out of engagement with the bag upon completion of said movement in said opposite direction, said bag dropping upon a bed upon completion of said last mentioned movement and members carried by said slide engageable with the end of said bag and moving the same on said bed in said first direction when said slide next moves in said first direction.

3. A bag feeding apparatus comprising a hopper; means for supporting a plurality of stacked bags therein; means for releasing a portion of a bag from the bottom of the stack; a slide memher having a first plate and a rotatable plate; said plates being engageable against each other on either side of the released portion of the bag;

said slide member being movable ina first direction to cause said first plate to come between the upper surface of the released bag and the bottom of the next succeeding bag; said rotatable plate being mounted on a shaft on said slide member; a crank on said shaft and a roller on said crank; a rail on said apparatus parallel to the path of said slide member; means for causing said roller to ride beneath said rail when said slide moves in said first direction; means for causing said roller to ride on the upper surface of said rail when the slide moves in an opposite direction; said shaft being rotated to rotates said rotatable'plate against said bag and said first plate at the inception of the movement in said opposite direction; said slide member being movable in an opposite direction to withdraw said bag from the bottom of the hopper; said rotatable plate being rotatable out of engagement with the bag upon completion of said movement in said opposite direction; said bag dropping upon a bed upon completion of said last mentioned movement; and members carried by said slide engageable with the end of said bag and movin the same on said bed in said first direction when said slide next moves in said first direction.

4. A bag feeding apparatus comprising a hopper means for supporting a plurality of stacked bags therein; means for releasing a portion of a bag from the bottom of the stack; a slide member having a first plate and a rotatable plate; said plates being engageabl against each other on either side of the released portion of the bag; said slide member being movable in a first direction to cause said first plate to come between the upper surface of the released bag and the bottom of the next succeeding bag; said rotatable plate being mounted on a shaft on said slide member; a crank on said shaft and a roller on said crank; a rail on said apparatus parallel to the path of said slide member; an end plate hingedly secured at the end of said rail and substantially coinciding with the position of said roller at the end of said movement in the first direction; said roller riding beneath said rail during the movement of the slide in the first direction; said roller riding beneath and beyond said end plate at the end of said movement; means for depressing said end plate after said roller has passed beyond the same; said roller, at the inception of said movement in an opposite direction riding upon the up per surface of said end plate and then upon the upper surface of said rail, said shaft being rotated when said roller rides upon the upper surface of said rail to rotate said rotatable plate against said bag and said first plate; said slide member being movable in an opposite direction to withdraw said bag from the bottom of the hopper; said rotatable plate being rotatable out of engagement with the bag upon completion of said movement in said opposite direction; said bag dropping upon a bed upon completion of said last mentioned movement; and members carried by said slide engageable with the end of said bag and moving the same on said bed in said first direction when said slide next moves in said first direction.

5. In a bag feeding apparatus for operating upon bags having a double bottom, the bottoms of each of said bags, when folded fiat, forming a re-entrant tongue; a hopper; means for supporting a plurality of flat stacked double bottom bags therein with the bottom end of each adjacent one side of the hopper, and with the re-entrant tongue formed by the folded double bottom of each arranged on the under surfac of each bag in the hopper; a plurality of flanges at the bottom of the hopper for supporting the stack of bags including an end flange at the end of the hopper adjacent the bottom end of each bag; means engageable with the re-entrant tongue of the bottom bag in the stack for releasing the end of said bag from engagement with said end flange; and means thereafter engageable with said released portion of the bag for withdrawing said bag completely from the bottom of the stack; and additional means associated with said last mentioned means for feeding said bag in a predetermined direction after it has been Withdrawn from the bottom of the stack.

6. In a bag feeding apparatus for operating upon bags having a double bottom, the bottoms of each of said bags, when folded flat, forming a reentrant tongue; a hopper; means for supporting a plurality of fiat stacked double-bottom bags therein with the bottom end of each adjacent one side of the hopper, and with the re-entrant tongue formed by the folded double bottom of each arranged on the under surface of each bag in the hopper; a plurality of flanges at the bottom of the hopper for supporting the stack of bags including an end flange at the end of the hopper adjacent the bottom end of each bag; a trigger mechanism for releasing an end of the bottom bag of the stack from engagement with said end flange, said mechanism comprising an oscillatory base, said base having a plate stationary thereon and a rotatable gripping plate, said base being movable toward said re-entrant tongue, said stationary plate registering with the under surface of said tongue, said gripping plate entering between said tongue and the under surface of the body of said bag, said gripping plate being then rotatable to capture said tongue between it and said stationary plate, said plates releasing the bottom end of said bag from said end flange upon return movement of said base, said plates releasing said tongue from engagement therebetween upon said return movement of the base;

and means thereafter engageable with said released portion of the bag for withdrawing said bag completely from the bottom of the stack; and additional means associated with said last mentioned means for feeding s'aid bag in "a predetermined direction after it has been withdrawn from the bottom of the stack. l

'7. In a bag feeding apparatus for operating upon bags having a double bottom, the bottoms of each of said bags, when folded flat, forming a re-entrant tongue; a hopper; means for supporting a plurality of flat stacked double bottom bags therein with the bottom end of each adjacent one side of the hopper, and with the reentrant tongue formed by the folded double bottom of each arranged on the under-surface of each bag in the hopper; a plurality of flanges at the bottom of the hopper for supporting the stack of bags including an end flange at the end of the hopper adjacent the bottom end of each bag; a trigger mechanism for releasing an end of the bottom bag of the stack from engagement with said end flange; said mechanism comprising an oscillatory base, said base having a plate stationary thereon and a rotatable gripping plate, said base being movable toward said re-entrant tongue, said stationary plate registering with the under surface of said tongue; said gripping plate entering between said tongue and the under surface of the body of said bag, said gripping plate being then rotatable to capture said tongue between it and said stationary plate, said plates releasing the bottom end of said bag from said end flange upon return movement of said base, said plates releasing said tongue from engagement therebetween upon said return movement of the base; a slide member having a plate engageable with said released portion of the bag said slide member being movable in a first direci for supporting a plurality of flat stacked bags therein with the bottom end of each adjacent one side of the hopper, a plurality of flanges at the bottom of the hopper for supporting the stack of bags including an end flange at the end of the hopper adjacent the bottom end of "each b'ag; suction means engage'able with the bottom end of the bottom bag in "the stack for releasing the end of said bag from engagement with said end flange; a slide member having a plate e'n gageable with said released portion of the bag; said slide member being movable in'a first direction to engage said portion of the bag and in the opposite direction to remove the bag from the bottom of the hopper; means for disengaging said bag from said plate at the completion of said movement in the opposite direction and for dropping said bag upon a bed; and means for thereafter moving said bag in said first direction upon said bed.

9. In bag feeding apparatus; a hopper; means for supporting a plurality of stacked bags therein with the bottom of each bag adjacent '-'one side of the hopper; a plurality of flanges at the bottom of e the hopper for supp'orting the stack of bags including an end flahge at the end or the hopper adjacent the bottom end of the bag; suction means engageable with the bottom end of the bottom bag in the stack for releasing the end of said bag from engagement with said end flange; said suction means comprising a tube having an open end rotatable into engagement with the end of the bottom bag resting on said end flange, means for applying suction at said open end of the tube, means for rotating said tube "downwardly to release said end of said bag from said end flange, means for discontinuing the suction on completion of said releasing movement; and means thereafter engageable with said released portion of the bag for withdrawing said bag completely from the bottom of the stack; and additional means associated with said last mentioned means for feeding said bag in a predetermined direction after it has been withdrawn from the bottom of the stack.

19. In a bag feeding apparatus for operating upon bags having a double bottom, the bottoms of each of said bags, when folded fiat, forming a re-entrant tongue; a hopper; means for supporting 'a-plurality of flat stacked double bottom bags therein with the bottom end of each adjacent one side of the hopper; and with the re-entrant tongue formed by the folded double bottom of each arranged on the under surface of each bag in the hopper; a plurality of flanges at the bottom of the hopper for supporting the stack of bags including an end flange at the end of the hopper adjacent the bottom end of each bag; means in said hopper for maintaining said stack in substantially regular vertical arrangement,

said means comprising a plurality of spaced horizontal beads on the interior of the side of the hopper adjacent the open ends of the bags and parallel thereto, said beads providing a support for .an open end of a bag, said open end of said bag being released from said head, when the double bottom end of the bag drops downwardly a sufficient distance to make the distance between the bottom end of the bag and the bead greater than the length of the bag.

11. A bag feeding apparatus comprising a hopper; means for supporting a plurality of stacked bags therein; means for releasing a portion of a bag from the bottom of the stack; a slide member having a plate engageable with said released portion of the bag; said slide member being movable in a first direction to engage said portion of the bag and in the opposite direction to remove the bag from the bottom of the hopper; means for disengaging said bag from saidpla'te at the completion of said movement in the opposite direction and for dropping said bag upon a bed; means for thereafter moving said bag in said first direction upon said bed; and additional means for aligning said bag upon said bed during said last mentioned movement thereof, said means comprising a flange adjacent one side of and parallel to the path of movement of said bag; and an additional member rotatable in a plane normal to the path of movement of the bag; said additional member being rotatable into engagement with the other side of said bag and aligning the same against said flange.

12. A bag feeding apparatus comprising a hopper; means for supporting a plurality of being movable in a first direction to engagesaid portion of the bag and in the opposite direction to remove the bag from the bottom of the hopper; means for disengaging said bag from said plate at the completion of said movement in the opposite direction and for dropping said bag upon a bed; means for thereafter moving said bag in said first direction upon said bed; and additional means for aligning said bag upon said bed during said last mentioned movement thereof, said means comprising a flange adjacent one side of and parallel to the path of movement of said bag; and an additional member rotatable in a plane normal to the path of movement of the bag; said additional member being rotatable into engagement with the other side of said bag and aligning the same against said flange; said additional member being rotatable out of said aligning relationship to permit removal of the bag from the bed and to permit an additional bag to to be moved into place upon said bed.

13. A bag feeding apparatus comprising a hopper; means for supporting a plurality of stacked bags therein; means for releasing a portion of a bag from the bottom of the stack; a slide fastener member having a plate engageable with said released portion of the bag; said slide member being movable in a first direction to engage said portion of the bag and in the opposite direction to remove the bag from the bottom of the hopper; means for disengaging said bag from said plate at the completion of said movement in the opposite direction and for dropping said bag upon a bed; means for thereafter moving said bag in said first direction upon said bed; and

means for removing said bag from said bed upon the completion of said last mentioned movement, said means comprising a cut-out in said bed, a pair of moving belts arranged for movement normal to the original path of movement of said bag, surfaces of said belts extending on either side of the original path of movement of said belts, pulleys carrying said belts, said pulleys being arranged on either side of the path of movement of the bag and spaced from each other, said bag, during its original movement being slidable between said pulleys, means for bringing said pulleys and said belts together at the completion of said original movement, said belts capturing said bag between them and removing the same from the bed.

14. A bag feeding apparatus comprising a hopper; means for supporting a plurality of stacked bags therein; means for releasing a portion of a bag from the bottom of the stack; a slide member having .a plate engageable with said released portion of the bag; said slide member being movable in a first direction to engage said portion of the bag and in the opposite direction to remove the bag from the bottom of the hopper; means for disengaging said bag from said plate at the completion of said movement inthe opposite direction and for dropping said bag upon a bed; means for thereafter moving said bag in said first direction upon said bed into the operating mechanism of a tin-tie attaching apparatus.

15. A bag feeding apparatus comprising a hopper; means for supporting a plurality of stacked bags therein; means for releasing a portion of a bag from the bottom of the stack; a slide member having a plate engageable with said released portion of the bag; said slide member being movable in a first direction to engage said portion of the bag and in the opposite direction to remove the bag from the bottom of the hopper; means for disengaging said bag from said plate at the completion of said movement in the opposite direction and for dropping said bag upon a bed; means for thereafter moving said bag in said first direction upon said bed into the operating mechanism of a tin-tie attaching apparatus; and additional means for aligning said bag upon said bed during said last mentioned movement thereof, said means comprising a flange adjacent one side of and parallel to the path of movement of said bag; and an additional member rotatable in a plane normal to the path of movement of the bag; said additional member being rotatable into engagement with the other side of said bag and aligning the same against said flange.

16. A bag feeding apparatus comprising a hopper; means for supporting a plurality of stacked bags therein; meansfor releasing a portion of a bag from the bottom of the stack; a slide member having a plate engageable with said released portion of the bag; said slide member being mov-' able in a first direction to engage said portion of the bag and in the opposite direction to remove the bag fromthe bottom of the hopper; means for disengaging said bag from said plate at the completion of said movement in the opposite direction and for dropping said bag upon a bed; means for thereafter moving said bag in said first direction upon said bed into the operating mechanism, of a tin-tie attaching apparatus; and additional means for aligning said bag upon said bed during said last mentioned movement thereof, said means comprising a flange adjacent one side of and parallel to the path of movement of said bag; and an additional member rotatable in a plane normal to the path of movement of the bag; said additional member being rotatable into engagement with the other side of said bag and aligning the same against said flange; said additional member being rotatable out of said aligning relationship to permit removal of the bag from the bed and to permit an additional bag to be moved into place upon said bed.

17. A bag feeding apparatus comprising a hopper; means for suporting a plurality of stacked bags therein; means for releasing a portion of a bag from the bottom of the stack; a slide member having a plate engageable with said released portion of the bag; said slide member being movable in a first direction to engage said portion of the bag and in the opposite direction to remove the bag from the bottom of the hopper; means for disengaging said bag from said plate at the completion of said movement in the opposite direction and for dropping said bag upon a bed; means for thereafter moving said bag in said first direction upon said bed into the operating mechanism of a tin-tie attaching apparatus; and means for removing said bag from said bed upon the completion of said last mentioned movement, said means comprising a cut-out in said bed, a pair of moving belts arranged for movement normal to the original path of movement of said bag, surfaces of said belts extending on either side of the original path of movement of said belts, pulleys carrying said belts, said pulleys being arranged on either side of the path of movement of the bag and spaced from each other, said bag, during its original movement being slidable between said pulleys, means for bringing said pulleys and said belts together at the completion of said original movement, said belts capturing said bag between them and removing the same from the bed.

LOUIS BISCHOFF. 

